Read the FFMI Newsletter online: View as Webpage
JUNE 10, 2021
Funding
U-M Therapeutic Innovation Fund RFP - Up to $150K to Support Drug Discovery
The U-M Therapeutic Innovation Fund, offered by the Michigan Center for Therapeutic Innovation (MCTI) and Fast Forward Medical Innovation, is a five-year, $2.5 million fund created in 2016 to accelerate the discovery and translation of therapeutic candidates at the University of Michigan. 
 
The fund supports the discovery and optimization of small molecule lead compounds for projects with a specific, novel, and testable drug discovery hypothesis. Selected projects receive funding and resources to support medicinal chemistry efforts through MCTI and funding for drug design, assay development, cell biology, structural biology, and pharmacology (up to $150,000 in value for each award for a period of 18 months with the funds being disbursed in two stages). The fund is jointly administered by MCTI and FFMI.
 
The submission deadline is Friday, September 10, 2021, at 5:00pm. 
Commercialization Education
Register Today! Ask the Experts: A Biomedical Innovation Forum
Join Fast Forward Medical Innovation, in partnership with the U.S. Economic Development Administration, for a virtual event where our panel of experts from the life science investment community will provide insight on trends within the industry and reveal investment criteria considered when evaluating emerging technologies.

Wednesday, June 16, 2021
12:00pm-2:00pm

Following the panel discussion, a virtual poster session will provide project teams from the FFMI Hub at U-M an opportunity for constructive feedback and coaching on their business case through open discussion with investment professionals and attendees.
Sign Up for June 15 Innovation Studio
Looking for feedback and input on your biomedical innovation? Join the Fast Forward Medical Innovation team for Innovation Studio, virtual office hours that give life science innovators of all levels the chance to address project needs, challenges, or questions. Participants can get individual feedback on:
  • innovation concepts          
  • opportunities for commercialization education          
  • funding resources          
  • any other innovation concerns that faculty, staff, or trainees may have      

The Innovation Studio is available for 30-minute consultations via Zoom every third Tuesday of the month. The next available consultations will take place Tuesday, July 20, 2021, between 2:00pm-3:30pm. Space is limited.
FFMI fastPACE Wraps Up with Virtual Finale
The 14th cohort of the FFMI fastPACE course recently finished with 14 teams completing the full course and participating in the finale. During the finale, participants were broken up into two breakout rooms and competed for 1st place and runner up based on the judges' scoring.

Congratulations to the winners!
Breakout 1
1st place:
IOP Sensor
Art Weber, Wen Li, Jim Vrbanac
Medical Device/Diagnostic Maize Track
Runner Up:
Novel Menstrual Solution
Jon Musai, Mabelle Pasmooij, Grace Orlando, Tejas Kakunje
Medical Device/Diagnostic Blue Track

Breakout 2
1st Place:
Novel Cancer Therapeutic
Sonali Kurup, Tom Dowling
Therapeutics Track
Runner Up:
MROAR
Joey Panella, Chuck Mayo
Health IT Track

FFMI fastPACE is a groundbreaking, four-week program that provides a real-world learning experience for researchers exploring the commercial viability of a biomedical technology. The course shows clinician-researchers and biomedical research scientists how to successfully put their ideas on viable paths to commercialization through a process of accelerated business planning and customer discovery.
FFMI Train-the-Trainer Program Spreads Commercialization Education to Biomedical Innovators Across the Country
In parallel to the FFMI fastPACE course, FFMI held the Train-the-Trainer program. Train-the-Trainer gives participants the opportunity to observe FFMI's expert teaching team and learn how to launch the FFMI fastPACE program at their home institutions, providing their biomedical faculty with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the initial process of innovation and commercialization.

This session's participants included:
  • UT Southwestern
  • Medical College of Wisconsin
  • UC San Diego
  • University of Mississippi
  • Columbia University
  • Ohio State University
  • University of North Carolina.

FFMI works in close partnership with U-M's CTSA organization, Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research, to support educational programs for all learners on the commercialization of biomedical research and innovation.

For more information on Train-the-Trainer or FFMI fastPACE, contact Jon Servoss, FFMI Director of Commercialization Education.
Aikens Innovation Academy Pitch Competition
The 2021 cohort of the Aikens Innovation Academy, provided in partnership by FFMI and the Frankel Cardiovascular Center (FCVC), wrapped up with a successful virtual pitch showcase event for seven project teams, representing faculty and staff from Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery, Cardiac Anesthesiology, Cardiac Rehab, Nephrology, and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Each of the project teams, in search of development funding, presented their innovation to over 30 attendees, including representatives from the FCVC and FFMI.
FCVC Innovation Challenge: Harvesting Ideas for Change from the Front Lines
The 2021 Frankel Cardiovascular Center (FCVC) Innovation Challenge Pitch Event was held virtually on May 20. Now in its fifth year, the goal of the challenge to empower the community of trainees, faculty, staff, patients, and families at the CVC to propose, test, and implement new innovations.

Seven teams presented their innovative projects and the panel of expert judges awarded the $100,000 grand prize to SafePace-Safe Epicardial Pacing Wires, led by Gardner Yost, M.D., M.S., and Gorav Ailawadi, M.D., M.B.A. SafePace aims to study complications due to removing epicardial pacing wires and develop a safer device with reduced risk of cardiac tamponade.

Congratulations to everyone who participated!
Business Development
FFMI Business Development Team Connects U-M Researchers and Industry Collaborators
Looking to partner with the right team to move your research to the next level? The FFMI Business Development (BD) team has the knowledge and experience to navigate the many departments and programs available at Michigan Medicine. The BD team helps build solid relationships between faculty and industry and leads the way through the business process to ensure successful project execution.

We've updated our website to make it easier than ever for you to learn what we can do for you and to connect you with the right BD team member to assist you with your needs. We look forward to hearing from you!
Out & About with FFMI
Congratulations, Jon Servoss!
Congratulations
Hats off to Jon Servoss, FFMI Director of Commercialization Education, for successfully defending his dissertation and receiving his Doctor of Education degree!

Jon's dissertation, "Entrepreneurial Universities: An Explanatory Study on the Complexities of Academic Entrepreneurship," examined characteristics of engaged academic entrepreneurs at a large academic medical center. In his dissertation, he provided recommendations for academics, administrative leaders, and academic technology transfer initiatives seeking to intensify participation in and the impact of their academic entrepreneurship programs.

Jon accomplished all of this while at the same time continuing to build and expand FFMI's educational offerings.

Way to go, Jon! We're all proud of you for reaching your goal. Another FFMI trophy is heading your way...
FFMI Follow-Up
Alyse Krausz Becomes First to Receive New Biomedical Innovation & Entrepreneurship Certificate
Alyse Krausz, a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering, is one step closer to an exciting career in this dynamic field after becoming the first student to complete the Biomedical Innovation & Entrepreneurship Certificate Program (BIECP). BIECP is a non-transcript certificate program offered through the University of Michigan Medical School and administered by Fast Forward Medical Innovation (FFMI) and the Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (OGPS).

Originally from Perrysburg, Ohio, Alyse got her undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University before making her way to Ann Arbor. She has spent the last five years doing research that focuses on diagnostic systems and studying blood samples to find new ways to measure proteins in the samples and diagnose Traumatic Brain Injuries.
Bulletin Board
New SciVal Workshops Available for Researchers
A new series of workshops is now available to help researchers more effectively use the tools provided by SciVal. Using advanced data analytics and super-computer technology, SciVal allows researchers to visualize their research performance, benchmark relative to peers, develop strategic partnerships, identify and analyze new, emerging research trends, and create uniquely tailored reports.

The sessions will help users navigate the analyses and features within SciVal, facilitating information gathering and guiding data-informed decisions.

The seven new sessions will be held bi-weekly from Wednesday, June 9 - Wednesday, September 1.
NCBI Midwest Workshops in June
The Taubman Health Science Library is partnering with the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) on a series of virtual workshops in June. Click on the link below for more information and to register.

Monday, June 14, 9:00am-12pm
Eisenberg Family Depression Center Research Awards
Three funding opportunities are currently available for research in the area of depression, bipolar, and related mood disorders.
  • Frances & Kenneth Eisenberg Translational Research Award 
  • Frances & Kenneth Eisenberg Scholar 
  • Oscar Stern Strategic Translational Research Awards (STAR Awards) 

Deadline: Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Workshop on Teaching Clinical and Translational Entrepreneurship in an Academic Setting 2021
University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia presents the Academic Entrepreneurship Educators' Forum.

Monday, June 21
12:00pm-3:00pm

This free virtual event will feature a diverse panel of speakers interested in the topic of teaching biomedical entrepreneurship and is a unique opportunity for the community of academic biomedical entrepreneurship educators to discuss effective teaching strategies.
Don't Forget! June 30 Deadline for All Researchers to Complete Expanded Training Course
Faculty, employees, and students engaged in research and scholarship across the three campuses are required, by June 30, to complete an expanded training course that outlines important guidance about responsible conduct in research and scholarship.

The updated PEERRS Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship training course, which is designed to include expanded federal requirements, is available through MyLINC. An individual’s noncompliance with the RCRS training requirement will result in a hold of a pending sponsored project award or award modification until the individual completes the course.

Questions? Please contact UMOR.RCRS@umich.edu.
Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) Now Recruiting Projects for 2021-2022
Mentoring a UROP student gives faculty, postdoctoral fellows, advanced graduate students, and other researchers an opportunity to shape the future of their field and make a lasting impact in the life of an undergraduate student.

UROP creates research partnerships between undergraduate students and University of Michigan (U-M) researchers and local community partners and organizations. Our students engage in research and creative projects with research mentors representing all 19 colleges/schools/units at U-M.

Deadline to review or submit a new project: Saturday, July 31
Our Collaborators
U-M Tech Transfer
To better navigate the complexities of the U-M biomedical research enterprise, visit the Research Project Lifecycle. This interactive tool provides an overview of the resources available to you, not only within the Medical School Office of Research but also across the University of Michigan.
Fast Forward Medical Innovation is part of the Office of Research, where our mission is to foster an environment of innovation and efficiency that serves the U-M Medical School community and supports biomedical science from insight to impact.